Tag: lifestyle

We all know that drinking water is a good – and essential – thing to do. But how much do we need to drink? And, besides water, what are the best beverages and foods to hydrate us? And, what is the most convenient and delicious way to flavor water? We have you covered in this post– our top tips for healthy hydration hacks!

Hack #1: How Much Water Do We Need?

Your individual water needs depend on many factors, including your health, your age, how active you are and where you live. No single formula fits everyone. Knowing more about your body’s need for fluids will help you estimate how much water to drink each day. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is:

About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids for men

About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women

These recommendations cover fluids from water, other beverages and food. About 20 percent of our daily fluid intake usually comes from food and the rest from drinks.

Hack #2: Besides Water, What Fluids Hydrate Well?

While water reigns supreme for hydration, and can do the trick almost every time, we all get tired of just drinking water. There are quite a few additional beverages you can add to your list for hydration helpers.

Milk. Whether you pick dairy, almond, cashew or soy, milk can provide an excellent source of hydration. Look for varieties with no-added sugar. Milk is a good post-workout drink as it can provide protein and carbohydrate which is needed for your muscles.In one study, drinking (dairy) milk helped people retain a third of the fluid they consumed over a two-hour follow-up period, and remain hydrated for over four hours. In this study the researchers found that milk was better than water for re-hydration, and is more effective at countering dehydration.

Sparkling Water. Just adding a little fizz can make water more interesting. While sparkling water may not be ideal pre-, during or post-workout, it is a great option for when you are going out and need to reduce the alcohol you are drinking. Sparkling water can be great with meals and snacks during the day. There are some deliciouscommercialoptions, and you can DIY at home.

Tea. Whether you like black, green or herbal, tea can help with your hydration goals. Teas that are caffeine-free are better at hydration versus those with caffeine. There are countless ways to enjoy tea, you can enjoy a RTD variety like Honest Tea or Pure Leaf (look for the unsweetened varieties), loose leaf or bag teas, and sachets with tea. Our favorite herbal teas include Yogi Tea’s Lemon Ginger, and Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea.

Coconut Water. In really hot and humid weather or in a workout when you sweat a lot, you could need a little hydration with some added electrolytes. Electrolytes are minerals that our bodies need to maintain balance and include sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Coconut water provides potassium and sodium. Look for a brand that has no added sugar varieties like Harmless Harvest and Zico. You can get electrolytes through fruits and vegetables also like bananas, melon, citrus, green leafy vegetables, and beets.

Juice. Juice is hydrating, and to lower the sugar content you can dilute with water. Fresh juice is a good option, and may not have added sugar. Check out BluePrint for some wholesome juice options. All foods and beverages can fit into a healthy lifestyle. If you are not sure how much sugar to be consuming, we can help you. Email us at info@bkomplete.com to schedule a session with one of our Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.

Hack #3: Flavor Your Water

Making water more “fun” is easier than ever to do. You can slice up your favorite fruit – orange, lemon, strawberry – and add to your water bottle or glass. For a savory twist, try sliced cucumber and lemon in your water – delicious, refreshing, and a little different.

Another option that we love at B.Komplete is to flavor our water with Stur Water Enhancer. Our favorite flavors are Coconut Pineapple and Boldy Blue and Blackberry. Just a few squirts, and your water will take on a vibrant flavor and color. Your kids will like this too! Using Stur is the perfect way to encourage a picky drinker to enjoy water.

Hack #4: Hydrate with a Smoothie

Smoothies are a delicious way to add nutrients and hydration into your diet. A smoothie can be as simple as throwing some ice, fruit and milk into a blender and blending until smooth – to as complex as adding ancient grains, fresh herbs, and organic protein powder to make a masterpiece (but, will that taste good?!). Our tips for the most hydrating ingredients to add into your smoothie include: water, any unsweetened milk (dairy, almond, cashew or soy), veggies (try spinach, cucumber, celery or kale), and – of course – fruit (try oranges, berries, and melon). Check out our recipe for a scrumptious Pineapple Smoothie and visit the Green Blender Recipe Blog for several hydrating smoothie recipes.

Whichever options you try, let us know in the comments below! The most important thing is to stay hydrated, in a healthy way, all year round. If you find it hard to remember to drink water, perhaps add it as a reminder in your calendar/phone each hour. Healthy hydration is the foundation for physical and mental activity.

Have you considered starting a garden? What if you created a garden full of fresh herbs or vegetables? You will get the health benefits from gardening, and an assortment of delicious fresh produce. If digging up your backyard sounds intimidating, or maybe you just don’t have the space for that dream garden, start small. Even potted gardening has health benefits. Below are some benefits to gardening as well as some tips to get started.

Mood boosting.Some studies have indicated that gardening can combat stress better than some other hobbies.

Stress reduction through mental focus.Gardening is deliberate mental focus in which you can set aside your daily problems and relax. It is so important to be able to “turn off” the stressors at work and your personal life to have the energy to tackle them head on. Reducing stress improves not only your mental health, but physical health as well. By limiting stress, you also decrease your risk of chronic diseases such has cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Improve your nutrition.Growing your own vegetables and herbs will allow you to add variety to your plate and even provide a boost of confidence knowing you grew them yourself. Produce picked fresh from the garden will taste amazing and provide more nutrients than many of the vegetables you would purchase at the grocery store. This will also save you money since you can now check the vegetables and herbs that you are growing off of your grocery list! You may even be more likely to get your family to consume vegetables more if you let them play an active role in the gardening with you.

How Do I Get Started?

Where do you want to grow your garden?

The initial step to gardening would be to decide an appropriate place to put it. If you have a huge backyard, consider finding a spot to designate to a garden. Does your front yard need some sprucing up? Plant some flowers along your house or deck. Both of these options may seem difficult if you live in a city. Fear not! There are plenty of ways to incorporate an indoor garden such as on your windowsill, or even finding lower light plants that can be placed throughout the house. Many cities have shared planting spaces; you will rent your box/plot/area and be able to plant your vegetables, herbs, fruits, flowers and pay a nominal fee. Find a garden near you here.

What do you want to plant?

Do you want to surround yourself in beautiful flowers and scents? Look up flowers that will thrive in your chosen area. Maybe you want to start cultivating your own vegetables. Investigate the vegetables that are in season in your location. Learn more about what is in season here.

What soil should you use?

This is very important to successfully grow your plants. There are a variety of soils out there and they are all comprised of different nutrients. When you have decided on the plants you want to grow, research the types of soil they do well in. The soil is their home, and provides food for them. Learn more about how to pick the right soil here.

What tools do you need?

When starting your first garden, you should begin small. That way you do not get overwhelmed or too out of your budget. Pick up your basic tools such as gardening gloves, a trowel, and a rake. For community container gardening, check out this list and for larger gardens, larger equipment may be needed.

How to maintain your garden:

Make sure you know how often you have to water your plants. Some can be very temperamental. Spend some of your free time weeding so that your plants do not suffocate from outside intruders. If the weeds are overwhelming, there are fertilizers you can use. The best part is that you get to choose the fertilizers and you know exactly what you are putting on your plants.

As long as you start slow, gardening can be fun, relaxing and budget friendly!

Let’s rewind to 2014 for a moment. B.Komplete was just getting started and I was just beginning to develop the wellness programs you see from us today. While researching comprehensive wellness programs, one of the keys to well-being that I discovered was the power of mindfulness and meditation. Well-being is far more than physical health – mental and emotional health are also vital to overall wellness. With this in mind, myself and my team developed a variety of stress reduction tools to guide anyone to a healthier mindset. B.Komplete now offers life coaching, yoga, meditation, chair massage, acupuncture, stress reduction stations, stress reduction seminars, workshops, and stress reduction challenges.

Fast forward to 2017 when I had been away from the “front lines” for a bit too long, and knew that I had to get out there. I decided it made sense for me to personally teach one of our stress reduction workshops. At this point I was practicing yoga frequently and had learned a little bit about meditation and how to use it. However, I had never really focused on becoming mindful myself, and I had definitely never committed to doing so on a consistent basis. I am a firm believer that in order to be the most effective teacher you can be, you must have personal experience with the subject matter. I wanted to experience the power of mindfulness and meditation for myself, and be able to share my experience with others. Here’s a little bit more about my journey to unlock my power through mindfulness meditation…

Life Before Mindfulness Meditation

Life before mindfulness meditation…

I have been a high stress person throughout my entire life. Stress has always been a major factor in my life, and probably always will be. Soon after starting graduate school I noticed I was losing large clumps of hair. I was obviously alarmed, and saw my doctor. The doctor told me, “you need to chill out a little bit, don’t let the school kill you.” Like I said, stress was a major factor for me. I noticed other physical changes in my body during periods of great stress. My body weight would fluctuate, my jaw would be sore from grinding my teeth, I had dark circles under my eyes. I could tell my body was not happy with the way I was handling stress.

How My Journey Began

I started with a 30 day mindfulness meditation practice. I practiced between 5 and 8 minutes daily and it was perfect. I found that it was really helpful to practice first thing in the morning, before starting work.

The changes I experienced during the first 30 days…

First of all, I gained an awareness that I had not been very mindful at all before starting this practice. As I made my way through the first 30 days I grew a whole new view of the world around me. I appreciated the nature, the scenery, and the leaves on the trees so much more. My world became much more vivid, more beautiful, and more inspirational, as I became more mindful.

My overall impression of my mindfulness and meditation practice…

It blew my mind! It totally changed my life by expanding my horizons and changing the way I perceived the world. I started noticing I was able to handle my stress in a much healthier way and had this new, positive outlook on life. I was more capable of handling stressful situations. As soon as I started my practice, I developed resiliency. When life tried to knock me down, I came back stronger and more focused. I started to notice my reactions changing. When difficult situations presented themselves I resorted to my practice.

The specific factors that helped me gain the full potential of my practice…

Developing a personal mantra was incredibly beneficial to me. In times when stress was mounting inside me, I came back to my breath and my mantra. The mantra drew me back to the present moment and brought me clarity and focus. I could feel the anger, frustration, stress, and other negative emotions dissipate as I focused myself on the present moment using my mantra. The way I see a mantra, is as a tool to change your mindset. I developed my mantra to help motivate me professionally by using words I connected deeply with to create a phrase I knew would help me get my mind back on the right track.

As a business professional, mindfulness helps me work.

Mindfulness has greatly benefited me from a professional standpoint. When business gets overwhelming, I take a step back and focus on what is going on right now. Mindfulness makes the tough stuff easier to handle. One thing I have struggled with in the past is focusing too much on the future. I would start to think about everything I had on my to do list and it became cumbersome. Mindfulness has helped me take a step back. I take things day by day now. I focus on what needs to be accomplished each day, and I do it. This has made my life so much more manageable. I find much more happiness and excitement in my day to day work now that I concentrate on one day instead of worrying about the next 3 months!

Recommended Tools to Get Started with Mindfulness and Meditation.

B.Komplete offers a wide variety of stress reduction programs. If you are interested in personally benefiting from a mindfulness and meditation practice, and would like to share this gift with your office group, contact us at info@bkomplete.com for additional information and to schedule our stress reduction events.

Here at B.Komplete, we strive every day to make Wellness Success achievable. But what exactly is Wellness Success? Depending on your health goals, Wellness Success can mean different things to different individuals. We’ve created this guide for Maintaining – or Gaining -Your Wellness Success to help you achieve your vision of wellness, and to overcome barriers you may face along the way.

Wellness Defined

Wellness is the self-directed process in which one comes to realize his or her full potential in mental and physical well-being. Things that hold us back from achieving wellness success include stress, time constraints, hesitance of change, and fear of the unknown. For Wellness Success to be realized, we must overcome all that holds us back.

The Empowerment Zone

Think about the things in your life that you wish were different. Write them down. Determine which of those you can control. These things are in your Empowerment Zone. Develop a plan of action that includes changing these undesirable things that you have control over.

Make the Choice to Change

The only way to realize positive change in your life is by making choices. Life is full of choices! Unfortunately, we make some of these choices so often that they have become habits. Change sometimes seems scary because we are stuck in these habits. We have become accustomed to doing things a certain way, and we are scared to change. The first step to achieving and maintaining Wellness Success is to override these feelings of fear.

Dissect your Habits, and Gain Control

By gaining control over your habits, you move closer to the person you want to be. There is no shortcut to mastering your habits, but there is one secret to controlling them: habits are built upon consistency. New York Times business writer, Charles Duhigg, explains the habit-building process in more detail in this NPR interview. To initiate a new behavior and turn it into a habit, you must be consistent with this behavior.

Start Small

Motivation rises and falls. To achieve better success, make changes that don’t require much motivation. Rather than eliminating sugar all day, start by eliminating it from your coffee. Instead of completely replacing your whole milk with almond milk, start by mixing half of each. After that becomes routine, introduce the new habit in another area, in another way. You’ll know when a habit becomes a routine, because it will feel automatic. As Forbes.com explains, “The most successful people take small, smart steps toward their goal.”

Plan for Success

Planning is a crucial tool in your effort to achieve Wellness Success. Some days, we are Super Versions of ourselves, and our motivation runs rampant. On other days, we just don’t feel like it. How do we make good decisions every single day? When we don’t have the time or motivation to make good decisions, we end up choosing what’s easiest. If your vision of Wellness Success involves healthier eating, try using free meal plans that meet your food group targets. If your Wellness Success involves incorporating more workouts into your weekly routine, try a free fitness app like Daily Workouts and Sworkit. By not planning ahead, we set ourselves up for failure.

Prioritize Your Goal

Ignore interruptions and anything that can take you off track. Follow your plan; treat your goal as a priority. Schedule your priorities, don’t prioritize your schedule. Schedule your efforts as if they are appointments, and commit to them like you would anything else. Don’t blow yourself off, just like you wouldn’t blow off a friend, coworker, dentist, or physician.

Have a Buddy!

A Stanford University Study found that simply receiving a phone call every two weeks to discuss exercise progress increased the amount of exercise done by participants by 78%. After a year and a half, the participants studied were still exercising at an increased level. Another study, by Indiana University, found that half of couples who worked out separately dropped out of their workout programs over the course of a year, while those who worked out together had only an eight percent dropout rate. The take home message: Find an exercise buddy and increase your chances of sticking to your workout routine.

Focus

To reach our wellness success, we need to become experts in directing our attention toward our goals. The ability to focus has been shown to predict happiness in school, work, and life. Methods for improving our focus include goal visualization and meditation. By visualizing our goals and defining what Wellness Success looks like, we can view completion and work towards that vision. Meditation can improve attention, reduce stress, and remove distraction as we continue on our path toward wellness.

Keep Track of Things

This simple but crucial step in behavior change is backed by research showing increased performance when behaviors are tracked. In 14 studies assessing tracking in school students, students who tracked their progress improved test scores by 32%. The most powerful results occurred when students were also able to see teachers’ expected scores as presented in the chart. This combination of seeing charted progress + preset goals and expectations has the biggest effect on enhancing performance. Regardless of the tracking method you choose, make sure to map out your goals along the way, so that you can view them as you chart your progress. Invest in a goal-oriented planner, like the Passion Planner, to track your habits and to create a road-map with expected achievements as you work towards your goals.

Getting Over the Hump

Everyone reaches a plateau. Whether a weight loss plateau or a motivational plateau, this is when it’s important to take a step back and review why you started in the first place. Think about why you chose to make these changes. What have you been working so hard over the last days, months, or year to achieve? Get back to your Empowerment Zone and realize that you have been making these changes because you have the choice to do so. You decided that it was important enough for you to choose change. Roadblocks are inevitable. To get past them, ask yourself: Are you bored? Do you need to tweak your workout? Do you need more variety in your meal planning? Are you stressed? Reassess your habits. If it’s diet variety that you need, think about varying your protein choices. Consider switching up your snacks. Try a new fruit, vegetable, or other produce item that you’ve seen but never tasted. Incorporating new things could be the best way to get over your temporary progress hump. Recognizing stress is also crucial to getting past this point. When we feel like our motivation has taken a vacation, stress is often to blame. We must learn to recognize stress in order to manage it. Look for physical, mental, behavioral, and emotional signs of stress. Then, overcome your stress with diet, exercise, and rest.

Congratulations on taking the first step toward realizing your personal Wellness Success: having the desire to change. Using this B.Komplete guide for maintaining your Wellness Success, you will be well positioned to overcome any future hurdles that you may face in your path toward optimal wellness.

Winter means colder temperatures and less hours of daylight. With more time spent inside and little exposure to sunlight, it can become a challenge to stay happy and energized. Because of this, it is crucial to stay focused on the nutrition choices that work for you during this time of the year. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression with seasonal patterns, is very common during the cold months of winter. Changes in mood, energy, focus, appetite, and sleep are normal and expected with this kind of disorder. There are many different ways that you can stay on top of your health and prevent symptoms of SAD. Staying active, eating healthy winter foods, and managing your stress are great places to start.

To stay happy, healthy, and energized incorporate these winter foods into your day:

Sweet Potatoes are a great source of Vitamin A, beta-carotene, potassium, fiber. They are also packed with antioxidants. With their sweet taste and bright orange color, adding them to your meal can be fun. Also, they work well in a lot of different recipes. Whether you choose to bake, roast, or mash them, sweet potatoes are a great food to eat to keep you full and energized! Check out more recipe ideas here.

Brussel Sprouts are “tiny cabbages” and have a wide variety of health benefits. When prepared with herbs, spices and some healthy oil, they taste really yummy! Brussels are full of fiber, as well as contain high levels of cancer-fighting antioxidants that can protect your DNA from oxidative damage. Try tossing them in some olive or avocado oil and roasting until lightly browned. Add some herbs like oregano, cumin, or smoked paprika. Toss with a pinch of salt and pepper, and enjoy! For other Brussel sprout recipe ideas, click here.

Salmon contains tryptophan which is an amino-acid that is a precursor for serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is associated with positive mood regulation. Salmon also contains large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids which have been shown in some studies to help regulate depression. The fat in salmon is heart healthy and helps to reduce harmful inflammation. Salmon can be baked, broiled, or grilled. Add your favorite marinade or season with citrus like lemon, lime and orange, and enjoy! Check out this link for more salmon recipe ideas.

Winter Squash is full of Vitamin A and carotenoids, which have been shown to promote healthy skin as well as benefit heart health and immunity. Also rich in fiber and potassium, winter squash is a great option for many! Try all different varieties: Acorn, butternut, kabocha, and delicate squash! To learn more about squash varities, check out Epicurious, and for some yummy winter squash recipes, click here.

Clementines are vitamin C and fiber-packed tiny fruits. This sweet and tart delights are great snacks for just about anywhere, anytime. Full of calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, and potassium, clementines are easy to pack and delicious to eat, Whether you’re peeling one for your morning snack or throwing them into your salad for lunch, clementines are the perfect addition to your day! For delicious recipe inspiration, check out Saveur.

Staying happy and healthy can sometimes be a challenge. Life is crazy, and there are always things to be worrying about and stressing over. Take small steps daily to keep your mind at ease and your body strong and energized. Enjoy these winter foods for your mood and overall vitality. Your health and well-being are important to all of us here at B.Komplete! Contact us at info@bkomplete.com to book one of our Registered Dietitian Nutritionists to help you come up with the health and wellness strategies that work, for you.

B.Komplete had the opportunity to speak with Dave, who is a professional in the food industry. Dave is happily married with two children. Like many of us, Dave started gaining weight in his 30’s, and found himself in a state he didn’t feel great about. And, then Dave made a change. Read on to learn what worked for him – which may also work for you.

When you first decided to make changes in your life, what was the first thing you did?

I realized I was not in the shape that I wanted to be in. It was obvious I wasn’t active enough and I knew I probably wasn’t eating the best. I wanted to start by focusing on my eating habits. To do this, I just started to keep track of what I was eating each day.

How did you begin the physical process of changing your life?

At first, I thought about how I could keep track of what I was eating. I knew I could keep notes or create an excel spreadsheet. Then I thought to myself, there has to be an easier way to do this, especially with all of the new technology now a days. So, I started to look into different apps. I searched “weight loss” and found My Fitness Pal and Lose It. My Fitness Palappeared to have a focus on exercise and that’s not what I wanted at this point. I chose to use Lose It because I could budget the amount of calories I was allotted each day in order to hit my goal weight.

What goals did you set for yourself?

I knew I wanted to lose weight. At the beginning, I was at my heaviest of 255 lbs and I wanted to get down to a healthier weight. I set a goal to get down to 215 lbs. Lose It actually helped me to hit my end goal by giving me mini goals each week. By that I mean, each week I was allotted a set number of calories in order to lose 2 lbs per week.

Were there any obstacles you faced during the process of change? How did you manage to stay healthy at work?

One Thursday or Friday evening, I wanted to enjoy a glass of wine with my wife after work but I didn’t have enough calories left to do so. That’s when it hit me. If I did enough physical activity, I could burn off enough calories to be able to enjoy my wine. This became important to me to work out so I could enjoy things and still maintain my calorie goals. Also, it helped me to feel better about myself.

With a long commute to work each day and a busy schedule, it’s hard to find time to fit in exercise. It helped for me to schedule it into my day and make it a priority. I started to go to the gym before work in the morning. I remember one of the first mornings my alarm went off and I said “if I don’t get up now, I’m never going to do this.” So, I got up and have been doing it ever since. On the days I have an early meeting and can’t go to the gym beforehand, I have to defend my time, meaning even if I can’t do my usual hour or so workout and only have time for 20 minutes of cardio, I do it.

Food wise, at work I started to make substitutes in my lunches. By tracking what I ate, I saw what wasn’t good for me and what I could replace it with. For instance, I now eat baked Lays chips instead of regular potato chips. Also, I’m a big fan of soups. I used to eat jambalaya and seafood bisque’s which are high in fat and sodium. Now, I found one that is much healthier and still tastes great.

What resources did/do you use to help keep you going?

Like I said, the app Lose It works well for me to track what I eat. I can also use it to track my exercises. There was one saying that my previous manager used to say that has stuck with me, that was: “what gets measured, gets done.” I think of that when I track what I eat and when I exercise. It helps you see or “measure” what you are doing and it keeps me accountable to “get it done” or meet my daily calorie allowance and fit in daily exercise.

You have to find something that works for you. When I started to get into exercising, I was never a fan of running but it is now something that I enjoy and helps me. I started running shorter distances, maybe a mile or two. Now, I have ran numerous races from 5K, 10K, to a half marathon.

Have your changes impacted your kids or family at all? if so, how?

My children are 5 & 2 so they are in their cute years. They actually helped to inspire me to want to change. I saw a picture of myself and one of my children and it didn’t look like me next to this cute kid.

Now that I’ve made my changes and stick to a healthy lifestyle, it sets a good example for them. They’ve come to my races and cheer me on from the sides. My older child even does “races” in the backyard where he just runs around for a little. It’s good for them to see the importance of healthy eating and regular exercise. Hopefully, down the road they will understand that from watching me.

What advice would you give your kids in the future on the importance of health, physical activity, and eating healthy?

I would say you have to make it a priority. You need to stay consistent, even if you can’t fit in a full workout one day, do what you can. You are still doing something and staying active. Also, find something you enjoy and are comfortable with. If you enjoy it, it will be easier to make it a priority in your daily life. It helps to track everything. You see what you are doing right and what you can improve on.

What are you most proud of?

After I lost all the weight, I went back to the doctors and my doctor noticed right away that I lost weight. Also, my biometrics had all improved. It was nice to see that not only on the outside I had improved, but also on the inside.

The business lunch manifests itself in many ways: the quick lunch, the working lunch, the networking lunch with coworkers, the job interview lunch, or the lunch-with-your-boss lunch! Whatever type you follow, we recommend making sure it’s a true and healthy break from your busy day.

There are countless benefits of breaking from work for lunch; reducing stress, increasing concentration, sustained energy for your afternoon, feeling better, and many more. However, unhealthy food choices and overeating can greatly hinder, if not cancel out, those positive results. By including better-for-you food and beverage choices and being mindful while eating, you can boost the positive benefits and fuel your body to get you through the rest of your workday with energy and vitality.

Mindful eating is a skill that takes practice. Mindful eating means: avoiding emotional food decisions and distractions at meal time. When we eat “mindlessly” we are not present during our mealtime, which can lead to weight gain and health problems. Don’t let emotions, stress, or deadlines sway your ability to maintain healthy eating habits during a busy work day. Practice being present and enjoy a breather, savor each bite, and come back to work recharged.

Four B.Komplete Tips for Your Mindful and Healthy Business Lunch

#1) When eating out, research the restaurant ahead of time.

Most restaurants have online menus available for perusal. You can check out Healthy Dining Finder to find healthy dining options in your area. Another tool to use is Calorie King which reveals the nutritional content of many foods. By figuring out your meal ahead of time, you can avoid the risk of impulse ordering.

#3) Pack your lunch the night before.

Your work day is busy enough. Avoid a hectic morning and try packing your lunch the night before when you’ve had a chance to decompress and can make mindful decisions. Have you heard about “salad in a jar” – it’s a solution for a healthy, custom, and delicious grab-and-go option.

#4) When eating with others, remember to savor.

It’s easy to get distracted by office chatter when networking with colleagues. Eating becomes so automatic that you may look down at your plate and notice your food is already gone. Savor each bite (for example, notice the texture of the food in your mouth or identify the different sweet, salty, sour, and spicy flavors as you chew) as if it were your last, to help avoid problems like overeating.

There are many reasons to take a lunch break and keep it sacred. This is so important that we’ve even mentioned it before in a previous post. Remember that lunch can be delicious and healthy. Schedule a daily break for yourself to refresh your mind and feed your belly. We promise your body and your company will thank you for it!

Type “becoming a vegetarian” into your favorite search engine and you are guaranteed to see a plethora of news articles, medical journals, lifestyle blogs, and social media sites filled with suggestions. Let’s keep it simple – condensed results for you in an easy-to-follow article:

If you’re reading this, then you may have thought about becoming a vegetarian at one time. For whatever reason you couldn’t start then, we challenge you to take the venture now! Vegetarianism is more accessible than ever, even for the busy professional.

Here are four steps to make it happen:

Step 1 – Let’s be honest…

Before skydiving for the first time, would you calmly hop in your car and drive to the nearest airport? Probably not; you may consider a few things like risk, personal health and cost, prior to jumping. Similarly, if you want to become a vegetarian, consider the following:

What foods do you enjoy and what don’t you like?

Are you an adventurous eater or do you to stick with what you know?

Do you eat in restaurants or at home?

Do you cook or buy ready-to-eat meals?

Understanding your preferences will help make this work. For example, don’t expect to become a vegan chef overnight if you don’t like cooking. You may enjoy some ready-to-eat options instead while you ease yourself into cooking a few meals.

Step 2 – What do you know?

There are different types of vegetarianism. Here are the most popular:

“No food with a face” – Quoted from TV character Phoebe Buffay of Friends , this type of vegetarian avoids food with a face, or simply put animal meat. The technical name is lacto-ovo vegetarian, which includes eating animal byproducts like dairy and eggs, but not the animal flesh itself.

One fish, two fish… – A pescatarian fuses the health benefits of fresh fish with nutrient rich plant-based foods. A pescatarian avoids all land animals like beef and poultry and may also exclude byproducts like eggs and dairy.

Animal hugger – Also known as vegan. This version completely omits animal product from the diet including byproducts like eggs, dairy, honey, and foods with Red40 coloring.

What the heck is a flexitarian? – A newer term, the flexitarian consumes meat less frequently and in smaller amounts. For example, a flexitarian may eat plant-based foods only, but will eat meat on special occasions like holidays.

Which one sounds good? Choose the best fit for you and set it as your goal.

Step 3 – Let’s eat!

Enough thinking, let’s start eating!

Tip 1 – Make your favorite already-vegetarian dishes:

Do you like sandwiches like grilled cheese and PB&J, veggie lasagna , rice and beans , tossed green salads and other potato, pasta and fruit salads, minestrone soup, or mac ‘n cheese? If you do, good news! These are already meat-free dishes!

Tip 2 – Embrace “gateway” meat products:

While some people turn their noses up at the processed nature of faux meats, this option can be an efficient way to add protein and make a meaty dish vegetarian without losing the flavor and texture of the dish. These products can be found in most grocery store chains, in the natural food and frozen food isles:

Avoid dairy and eggs by using plant-based ingredients instead. Items like applesauce, bananas, nut milks, flax seed, and coconut can be substituted while cooking and baking. In addition to great taste, your foods may be healthier! Check out conversion charts available online.

Step 4 - Nice to meet you!

To be a successful vegetarian, introduce yourself to new meals and ingredients. Plant-based dishes can be delicious, easy to find, and healthy.

Are you a foodie? Look at restaurants in your area for creative vegetarian dishes. Many cities have fully vegetarian restaurants featuring a diverse menu of interesting foods.

Are you adventurous? Expand your palate by trying ethnic foods like Indian, Mexican, Thai, and African, all of which have tasty vegetarian dishes.

Take the Challenge

Starting a vegetarian diet can be easy to do, and can be a gradual process. It’s helpful to have a support system in friends and family.

To help you get started, we challenge you to take the 3-day B.Komplete Vegetarian Challenge! All you need to do is try three breakfasts, lunches, snacks and dinners that fall within the type of vegetarian you want to become. Use the recipe sources in this post or stick to your already vegetarian favorites. Then, let us know how you did by leaving a comment below!

Not willing to commit yet? Try out Meatless Monday. A now global movement, this organization encourages people to “once a week, cut the meat.” Their website has a vault of resources to help you commit to reducing overall consumption of meat.

What a year it has been! As we all gear up for the December Holiday Season we at B.Komplete wanted to share with you our favorite tips for staying healthy and safe during the holidays, and all year round. If you choose to use all 10, or pick 1-2 that work for you, please let us know how the tip has helped you!

Savor Your Favorites

Scan the menu in advance and figure out which foods will provide you the most satisfaction to get the biggest enjoyment for the calories. Decide how much you can consume without overdoing it. If you enjoy appetizers or desserts select a few of your favorites to enjoy. Avoid mindlessly munching on foods that you aren’t crazy about. When its time to enjoy your favorite food, eat it slowly. Focus on all sensory aspects of the food.

Live in the Moment

The holidays don’t have to be perfect or just like last year. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change also. Choose a few to hold on to, and be open to creating new ones. Focus on being present in the moment and focusing on the positives of right now.

Plan Fun Exercise

Research has proven that if you enjoy exercise and think of it more like a fun activity you are more likely to do it, and also less likely to reward yourself with a food treat afterwards. Check out a new class at your gym, plan outdoor winter activities, take up a winter sport, or get creative at home – dance!

Prune Your To-Do List

It’s really easy to let the to-do list pile up. And one sure fire way to reduce stress is to: prune your to-do list. Ask, “If I don’t do this, what will happen?” Aim to knock down the list of “to-do” to the rock-bottom necessity.

Make a Budget

The American Psychological Association cited lack of time and money as biggest common stress producers for individuals during the holidays. Create a budget that works for you before the holidays start, and stick to it. Check out Christmas Organized Home for some great resources and ideas on holiday budgets.

Take a Breather

Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Even Oprah does this! Find something that reduces stress by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing and restoring inner calm. Some options may include: Taking a walk at night and stargazing, listening to soothing music, getting a massage, or reading a book.

Lighten Up Recipes

The American Diabetes Association provides useful tips on how to enjoy and keep it healthy.

The team at Joy Bauer has some helpful tips to keep your holidays healthy:

Happily Hydrate

Water may very well help keep your metabolism moving. And it is no secret that if you are dehydrated you are going to feel lousy. Get extra water through broth based soups, decaffeinated tea, fruits and vegetables. And enhance your water with citrus, cucumber, or berries.

Rest Well

A good night’s rest can help your cognitive function, concentration skills, mood, and boost your immune function. Trouble sleeping? The National Sleep Foundation provides helpful tips to give you a restful nights’ slumber.

Laugh Often

Studies show that humor and happiness are associated with the ability to enhance our immune function, decrease our risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease. Schedule time for activities that make you laugh such as watching a funny movie or television show or spending more time with that one friend who makes you laugh. There are many really funny videos on You Tube that only take a minute to watch, and can make you laugh to hard you have a positive outlook for the next hour.